Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

Know Before You Go

🌟 Welcome to this week’s "Know Before You Go," a program by the Dominican Central Province of St. Albert the Great. Join Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP (from St. Pius V Priory, Chicago, recording at the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, NY) as he unpacks the powerful readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

📜 This Week’s Key Themes:

1️⃣ LOVE THAT WITNESSES (John 13:34-35)

  • Jesus’ command to “love one another” isn’t just about feelings—it’s a radical call to live in a way that points others to God.
  • “Does your love make people ask, ‘What’s different about you?’”

2️⃣ PERSEVERANCE IN HARD TIMES (Acts 14:21-27)

  • Like Paul and Barnabas, we’re called to encourage one another amid persecution, division, and a broken world.
  • Fr. Jim’s challenge: “Do your actions contribute to ‘no more death and mourning’—or add to the pain?”

3️⃣ HEAVEN STARTS NOW (Revelation 21:1-5)

  • God’s promise of a “new heaven and new earth” isn’t just for the future—it begins today through our choices.
  • “God dwells with us NOW. Are we building His kingdom—or tearing it down?”

💬 Reflection Questions:

  • How can you love more intentionally this week?
  • Where is God calling you to heal instead of hurt?
  • Do others see Christ’s light in you—or the world’s noise?

⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:45 - The Gospel’s Call to Love 3:12 - Acts of the Apostles: Perseverance 5:50 - Revelation: Heaven on Earth 8:30 - Final Challenge & Blessing 🙏 Support This Ministry: Like 👍 if this homily inspired you! Comment 📝: “How will you live this week’s message?” Share 🔗 with someone who needs hope! #CatholicHomily #SundayMass #EasterSeason #ChristianLove #BibleStudy

Dominican recording video

Know Before You Go is a ministry of the provincial office to help people prepare to hear the readings and preaching of the approaching Sunday's Mass. We welcome any feedback you have at know@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name.

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  •

    The Fourth Sunday of Easter

    The Fourth Sunday of Easter scriptures shed light on the significant events of Pope Francis' passing and the election of Pope Leo XIV. Discover surprising parallels in the readings about community, leadership (the Lamb and Shepherd), and the joy of the Gospel message for all.
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    The Third Sunday of Easter

    In this insightful homily, Br. Joe explores the Gospel of John (John 21:1-19), where the Risen Jesus appears to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Why did Simon Peter go back to fishing? Br. Joe delves into the disciples' confusion after the Resurrection and how Peter returned to what he knew. Discover how this moment becomes a "second calling," mirroring their first encounter with Christ and commissioning them for a new ministry.
  •

    Divine Mercy Sunday

    Listen to this explanation of the readings by Fr. Brendan Curran, OP, for the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Preached in Puerto Rico, this reflection draws inspiration from the Acts of the Apostles and the powerful ways God worked through the early Church. The homily also includes a remembrance of the recently deceased Pope Francis, offering a message of hope and continuity in faith during times of transition.
  •

    Easter Sunday: He is Risen! Embrace New Life!

    Join us as we explore the profound mystery of the empty tomb as recounted in the Gospels of John (Chapter 20) and Luke. We'll unpack the experiences of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John as they encounter the first signs of Jesus' triumph over death – the rolled-away stone, the burial cloths, the angelic message: "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?"
  •

    The Fifth Sunday of Lent

    This week, we explore God's promise of "something new" from Isaiah, St. Paul's relentless pursuit of Christ in Philippians, and the powerful Gospel story of Jesus, the woman caught in adultery, and the law written in stone versus the mercy written in sand.
  •

    The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Repairing What's Broken

    Join Br. Joe Trout, OP as he reflects on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent and how God works to make us better people. Time and again we see in the scriptures that the people God chooses are not necessarily the best people. They are not perfect, but God works with them to fix their faults and make them into better people.
  •

    The Second Sunday of Lent

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, in which Peter, James, and John go up the mountain with Jesus and he is transfigured before them, and God tells them, "This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him." As their faith was strengthened by this event, our faith should be strengthened as we journey through Lent, so that at the end of it no storm will be able to shake our faith in the God to whom we cling.

    Readings: Genesis 15:5-12,​17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28-36
  •

    The First Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the first Sunday of Lent, Jesus being led out through the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by the devil. The forty days serve as a chance for Jesus to solidify his faith so that he can easily resist the snares of the devil. May our Lenten journeys do the same.

    Readings: Deuteronomy 26:4–10; Romans 10:8–13; Luke 4:1–13

    (Photo of Second Temple in Jerusalem By Ariely - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4533576)
  •

    The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time with its warnings against hypocrisy. While this is always difficult, we can help by working on shortening the gap between who we are and who we want to be.

    Readings: Sirach 27:4–7; 1 Corinthians 15:54–58; Luke 6:39–45
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    The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, explaining how sometimes God's words are hard to understand, and sometimes they are hard to do. It is easy to turn our backs on the needy and on our opponents, but it is important to nonetheless live up to our call as Christians.

    Readings: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23; 1 Corinthians 15:45–49; Luke 6:27–38
  •

    The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, exploring how we can discern true prophets from false prophets. The Prophet Jeremiah reminds us to expect our faith to flourish like a tree planted by a river that fears no doubt. St. Paul reminds us to root our faith in the resurrection of Christ. And our Gospel is Luke's version of the Beatitudes, which matches each "Blessed are you" with a corresponding "woe are you" to that while he gives comfort to the poor, he also warns of the dangers that riches bring, and while he praises trues prophets, who always invite trouble on themselves, he warms against being false prophets, who get praised by all because they tell them what they want to hear instead of speaking God's truth, which is usually challenging.

    Readings: Jeremiah 17:5–8; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16–20; Luke 6:17, 20–26
  •

    The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Jimmy Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time around the theme that, through no merit of our own, God moves us from unworthiness to worthiness. We can see this in the call of Isaiah the prophet, Peter's response to the miracle catch of fish by saying, "Leave me Lord, for I am a sinful man," and by Paul telling us that he went from persecuting Christians to being an Apostle solely by the grace of God. God does not define us by our flaws, but by our grace-fueled potential.

    Readings: Isaiah 6:1–2a, 3–8; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11; Luke 5:1–11
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    The Presentation of the Lord

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. As Jesus is presented in the Temple in Jerusalem, the prophet Anna sings his praises and the prophet Simeon declares that he can now die happy because he has seen the salvation God has promised. Can we allow Jesus to take away all our fears, even the fear of death?

    Readings: Malachi 3:1–4; Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10; Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 2:22–40.

  • The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings on this Sunday which celebrates the Word of God Sunday, in which the people of God realize how they had wandered far from the obeying the Word of God, and were struggling to come back. But in Good News, in the New Testament, Jesus offers us a new way to fulfill this calling together.

    Readings: Nehemiah 8:2–4a, 5–6, 8–10; 1 Corinthians 12:12–30; Luke 1:1–4; 4:14–21
  •

    The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, where Jesus turns water into wine. This sign speaks of Jesus' divine authority, but it also speaks of how God wants everyone to have enough. Jesus was dealing with a real scarcity, but many people manufacture artificial scarcities to gain a financial, political, or spiritual advantage over others. These scarcities need to be eliminated.

    Readings: Isaiah 62:1–5; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; John 2:1–11
  •

    The Baptism of the Lord

    Fr. Brendan Curran OP breaks open the readings for the Baptism of the Lord. As John baptised Jesus in the Jordan River, we are invited to imagine being on the banks of the river searching our own souls for what we need to change in our own lives. What do we need to do to prepare a way for God to come more fully into the world? Can we embrace our own Baptismal call to be authentic witnesses of Christ?

    Readings: Isaiah 40:1–5, 9–11; Titus 2:11–14; 3:4–7; Luke 3:15–16, 21–22
  •

    Epiphany Sunday

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for Epiphany Sunday. In the first reading it is prophesied that all the nations will go up to Jerusalem bringing gifts of gold and frankincense. In the Gospel, the magi follow the star to Jesus and give him gold, frankincense... and myrrh, an incense used in divine worship and in burying Jesus, noting his divinity and the sacrifice of his life. In the second reading, Paul reminds us that Jesus came for everyone, both Jews and gentiles.

    Readings: Isaiah 60:1–6; Ephesians 3:2–3a, 5–6; Matthew 2:1–12
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    The Feast of the Holy Family

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for the Feast of the Holy Family, which celebrates Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, but which also calls all families to holiness. In the Gospel, Joseph and Mary move towards letting Jesus go, allowing him to be part of something larger than their own family, a practice we can all try in our own families.

    Readings: 1 Samuel 1:20–22, 24–28; 1 John 3:1–2, 21–24; Luke 2:41–52
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    The Fourth Sunday of Advent

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, which celebrate the coming messiah. The Prophet Micah promises that one day a ruler will come who will lead justly, not just for Jerusalem, but for the whole world, so that the poor might flourish. The letter to the Hebrews explains how the sacrifice of Jesus actually frees people from sin, unlike the sacrifices in the Temple. Then, in the Gospel of Luke, Mary believes that the time has finally come for these things to come true, helping to bring them about.

    Readings: Micah 5:1–4a; Hebrews 10:5–10; Luke 1:39–45
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    The Third Sunday of Advent

    Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP opens up the readings for us for the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete ("Rejoice") Sunday. In the readings we are challenged to see the coming of our saviour and rejoice in that knowledge, and to ask "what must I do to help bring this great thing about?"

    Readings: Zephaniah 3:14–18a; Philippians 4:4–7; Luke 3:10–18
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    The Second Sunday of Advent

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, remembering our call to be messengers of hope for a weary world, as was the Prophet Baruch and John the Baptist. God will complete the good work already begun, and let it be done through us.

    Readings: Baruch 5:1–9; Philippians 1:4–6, 8–11; Luke 3:1–6
  •

    The First Sunday of Advent

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the First Sunday of Advent, speaking of how to live in the time in between Jesus' first coming and his second coming. Paul says we are to grow the love of others in our heart and follow God more closely. Jesus advises us to stay awake and not be distracted by anxiety. When we do, we lean into the perfection of the second coming and pull away from the hopelessness of the world.

    Readings: Jeremiah 33:14–16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2; Luke 21:25–28, 34–36
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